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India's no.1 ranked singles Tennis player has been a giant killer in the ongoing Fed cup, but is fighting for support to realise her dreams.
Each time Ankita Raina won a point in the match against Ling Zhang of Hong Kong, she let out a yell of exhilaration. Pumped fists, adrenaline running high, she beat Zhang 6-3, 6-2 to continue here very fine run in the ongoing Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group one matches in New Delhi. After the win, it was time for some tears to flow as the number one ranked female singles player in India hugged her mom Lalita .
So yes, she is currently ranked 253 in the WTA rankings but that nowhere is a reflection of the doughty Kashmiri girl's giant killing acts—she has made a habit of beating top 100 players on the circuit. The last two days too, the Ahmedabad-based Raina has been the torchbearer of the host team in the tournament. She beat 120 ranked Lin Zhu of China on Wednesday and Yuliya Putintseva, the world number 81 of Kazakhistan, who played in the third round of the French Open in 2017 in the ongoing Fed Cup on Thursday. This was a tough match as Raina was under the weather and threw up on court too but she hung in only to shock the Kazakh.
Speaking to THE WEEK after her win against Zhang, she said in a quivering voice: “Fed Cup is very important for me because it's the only event where you come together and play for India. I feel very motivated with India written on my back,” said the 25-year-old. “I have been working very hard for the past many years for these results. I am very happy that I am able to play like I did, hopefully I will continue to do better and better and get into the Grand Slam circuit and Olympic teams.”
On advise of the team doctor and physio, she took medicines for the dry cough she was suffering from on Thursday. Post that work, her trainer helped her get ready for the match on Friday. Challenges are something she has faced all her life. She gives credit to her mother from whom, she says, she has got her “fighting spirit”.
Raina started playing at the age of 4. It was a dream of her mother—a sports enthusiast—to ensure she and her elder brother got a chance to chase their sports dream. She hails from a middle class family—her father works in Ahmedabad while her mother, an employee with LIC, has recently got transferred to Gurgaon.
Raina, however, managed somehow. She travelled for a few tournaments with her mother while playing in the age group events. From the age of 16, its been a lonesome journey—she has travelled and competed without her mother or any coach or trainer—figuring out stuff on her own. “The tears were because all that struggle came back to both of us like a flashback. Only my mom knows the troubles I have faced,” said Raina. She does not have a coach or trainer to travel with her as of now.
Initially coached by V.K. Rawat, she has been coached by Hemant Bendrey for the last 10 years. Support has come from the Sports Authority of Gujarat—which has helped her to compete in 25-30 events every year. However it is no secret that she was shocked when her name was omitted from the TOPS funding list of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. “That came as a surprise. When it happened, I was the top ranked women's singles player in the country but was left out of it for some reason,” she said.
The present year and next few are extremely crucial to Raina's career. Giving examples of top five Men's and Women's ranked players in the world, she points out that average age of theirs is 30 plus and 29 respectively. “It shows the sport is maturing. This is the time when I need the support most from the government and private sponsors. There is the Asian Games, too, this year. People can't back off at this point.”
While leaving Raina out, TOPS has granted funding to next best singles player Karman Kaur Thandi, doubles player Prarthna Thombare along with Sania Mirza. Former Davis Cup player Somdev Dev Burman had made the recommendations, and AITA had indicated that he felt she had not shown enough progress.
Coach of Team India Ankita Bhambri empathised with Raina's woes saying, “ Tennis is a one long, lonely road. I understand where she is coming from. You require all possible support—financially and otherwise—at this point.”
